Advertising measurement and conversion measurement for radio systems

ABSTRACT

A system comprises an Internet network interface, and a first server. The first server include a first port operatively coupled to the Internet network interface, a memory, a processor, and a service application for execution by the processor. The service application is configured to receive a digital audio file and associated radio broadcast information via the Internet network interface, obtain an audio file identifier using a segment of the digital audio file, forward the digital audio file to a radio broadcast system according to the radio broadcast information, receive the segment of the digital audio file and associated radio reception information via the internet network interface, and identify the digital audio file and record the radio reception information for the identified digital audio file.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technology described in this patent document relates to systems andmethods for providing supplemental data (e.g., metadata) that isassociated with over-the-air radio broadcast signals.

BACKGROUND

Over-the-air radio broadcast signals are commonly used to deliver avariety of programming content (e.g., audio, etc.) to radio receiversystems. Such over-the-air radio broadcast signals can includeconventional AM (amplitude modulation) and FM (frequency modulation)analog broadcast signals, digital radio broadcast signals, or otherbroadcast signals. Digital radio broadcasting technology deliversdigital audio and data services to mobile, portable, and fixedreceivers. One type of digital radio broadcasting, referred to asin-band on-channel (IBOC) digital audio broadcasting (DAB), usesterrestrial transmitters in the existing Medium Frequency (MF) and VeryHigh Frequency (VHF) radio bands.

Service data that includes multimedia programming can be included inIBOC DAB radio. The broadcast of the service data may be contracted bycompanies to include multimedia content associated with primary or mainradio program content. Information related to the play of the multimediacontent may be of interest to the companies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of portions of an example of a radio broadcastsystem that transmits over-the-air radio broadcast signals to one ormore radio broadcast receivers.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a portion of an example of thecomponents of a studio site, an FM transmitter site, and a studiotransmitter link.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system for processing audio files forradio broadcast.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of portions of an example in-ban on-channel(IBOC) digital audio broadcast (DAB) receiver.

DESCRIPTION

Over-the-air radio broadcast signals are commonly used to deliver avariety of programming content (e.g., audio, etc.) to radio receiversystems. Main program service (MPS) data and supplemental programservice (SPS) data can be provided to radio broadcast receiver systems.Metadata associated with the programming content can be delivered in theMPS data or SPS data via the over-the-air radio broadcast signals. Themetadata can be included in a sub-carrier of the main radio signal. InIBOC radio, the radio broadcast can be a hybrid radio signal that mayinclude a streamed analog broadcast and a digital audio broadcast.Sub-carriers of the main channel broadcast can include digitalinformation such as text or numeric information, and the metadata can beincluded in the digital information of the sub-carriers. Thus, a hybridover-the-air radio broadcast can include an analog audio broadcast, adigital audio broadcast, and other text and numeric digital informationsuch as metadata streamed with the over-the-air broadcast. Theprogramming content may be broadcast according to the DAB standard, thedigital radio mondiale (DRM) standard, radio data system (RDS) protocol,or the radio broadcast data system (RBDS) protocol.

In IBOC radio, the radio broadcast can also be an all-digital radiobroadcast in which primary digital sidebands, and lower-power secondarysidebands in the spectrum vacated by the analog signal, are used totransmit main program service data and supplemental program servicedata.

Hybrid radio systems can provide a user with an enhanced experience(e.g., an enhanced listening experience) regardless of the type ofterrestrial broadcast signal that is received at the user's radioreceiver system. For example, conventionally, a user receiving aconventional analog AM or FM radio broadcast signal is provided little,if any, metadata in addition to the received audio (e.g., a user'sautomotive receiver may display only a song title and artist name). Bycontrast, hybrid radio enhances the user's experience by providing avariety of different metadata in concert with the primary programmingcontent. For example, users receiving radio broadcast signals at areceiver system may view images, videos, multimedia displays, text,etc., that is related to the programming content received in metadatavia the over-the-air radio broadcast signals.

The metadata can include both “static” metadata and “dynamic” metadata.Static metadata changes infrequently or does not change. The staticmetadata may include the radio station's call sign, name, logo (e.g.,higher or lower logo resolutions), slogan, station format, stationgenre, language, web page uniform resource locator (URL), URL for socialmedia (e.g., Facebook, Twitter), phone number, short message service(SMS) number, SMS short code, program identification (PI) code, country,or other information.

Dynamic metadata changes relatively frequently. The dynamic metadata mayinclude a song name, artist name, album name, artist image (e.g.,related to content currently being played on the broadcast),advertisements, enhanced advertisements (e.g., title, tag line, image,phone number, SMS number, URL, search terms), program schedules (image,timeframe, title, artist name, DJ name, phone number, URL), servicefollowing data, or other information. When the radio receiver system isreceiving an over-the-air radio broadcast signal from a particular radiostation, the receiver system may receive both static metadata anddynamic metadata.

It is desirable for companies, advertisers, and radio stations to have ameans to independently track the play of their advertisements and totrack the impact of the advertisements on listeners. This feedback wouldallow the companies, advertisers, and radio stations to better allocatetheir advertising resources.

The following description and the drawings sufficiently illustratespecific embodiments to enable those skilled in the art to understandthe specific embodiment. Other embodiments may incorporate structural,logical, electrical, process, and other changes. Portions and featuresof various embodiments may be included in, or substituted for, those ofother embodiments. Embodiments set forth in the claims encompass allavailable equivalents of those claims.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of portions of an example of a radio broadcastsystem that transmits over-the-air radio broadcast signals to one ormore radio broadcast receivers. The system 100 provides an informationinfrastructure to track the playing of advertisements and the impact ofthe advertisements on radio listeners. The information generated by theradio system can be accessible by third parties, such as an advertisingagency, a company that has engaged the advertising agency, or a radiostation engaged to place advertisements in the radio broadcast.

The system 100 includes a radio broadcast transmitter 105 that transmitsan over-the-air radio broadcast signal to a radio broadcast receiver110. The over-the-air radio broadcast is a one-way broadcast that caninclude a hybrid IBOC radio signal or an all-digital IBOC radio signal.The system 100 also includes a service controller 115. The servicecontroller 115 can be a server that can send formatted digital datasuitable for transmission by the radio broadcast transmitter 105. Theservice controller 115 can also communicate data with the radiobroadcast receiver 110 over an intermediate communication platform 120such as, among other things, a telematics network, the Internet, or acellular network.

Third parties can upload advertisement files for placement in theover-the-air radio broadcast. The advertisement files can be uploaded tothe service controller 115 using the intermediate communication platform120 or the cloud 125. The radio broadcast receiver 110 returnsinformation related to the playing of advertisements by the radiobroadcast receiver 110 to the service controller 115 via theintermediate communication platform 120. The service controller 115 canprocess the information (e.g., to perform analytics on the information)which can be uploaded by third parties. In certain embodiments, theservice controller 115 can store the returned information in associationwith the advertisement files. The returned information can be downloadedby third parties to perform the analytics.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a portion of an example of thecomponents of a studio site 210, an FM transmitter site 212, and astudio transmitter link (STL) 214 that can be used to broadcast an FMIBOC DAB signal. The studio site includes, among other things, studioautomation equipment 234, an Ensemble Operations Center (EOC) 16 thatincludes an importer 218, an exporter 220, an exciter auxiliary serviceunit (EASU) 222, and an STL transmitter 248. The transmitter siteincludes an STL receiver 254, a digital exciter 256 that includes anexciter engine (exgine) subsystem 258, and may include an analog exciter260. While in FIG. 2, the exporter is resident at a radio station'sstudio site and the exciter is located at the transmission site, theseelements may be co-located at the transmission site.

At the studio site, the studio automation equipment 234 supplies MPSaudio 242 to the EASU, MPS data 240 to the exporter, SPS audio 238 tothe importer, and SPS data 236 to the importer. MPS audio serves as themain audio programming source. In hybrid radio modes, it preserves theexisting analog radio programming formats in both the analog and digitaltransmissions. MPS data, also known as program service data (PSD),includes information such as music title, artist, album name, etc.Supplemental program service can include supplementary audio content(SPS audio) as well as program-associated data (SPS data).

The importer contains hardware and software for supplying advancedapplication services (AAS). A “service” is content that is delivered tousers via an IBOC DAB broadcast, and AAS can include any type of datathat is not classified as MPS, SPS, or Station Information Service(SIS). SIS provides station information, such as call sign, absolutetime, position correlated to GPS, etc. Examples of AAS data includereal-time traffic and weather information, navigation map updates orother images, electronic program guides, multimedia programming, otheraudio services, and other content. The content for AAS can be suppliedby service providers 244, which provide service data 246 to the importervia an application program interface (API). The service providers 244may be a broadcaster located at the studio site or externally sourcedthird-party providers of services and content.

The importer 218 can establish session connections between multipleservice providers. The importer 218 encodes and multiplexes service data246, SPS audio 238, and SPS data 236 to produce exporter link data 224,which is output to the exporter via a data link. One or both of thestudio automation equipment 234 and importer 218 can be included in theservice controller 115 of FIG. 1. In certain embodiments, one or both ofthe studio automation equipment 234 and importer 218 can be included inone or more servers. Metadata can be included in one or more of the SPSaudio, SPS data, or AAS data.

The exporter 220 contains the hardware and software necessary to supplythe main program service and SIS for broadcasting. The exporter acceptsdigital MPS audio 226 over an audio interface and compresses the audio.The exporter also multiplexes MPS data 240, exporter link data 224, andthe compressed digital MPS audio to produce exciter link data 252. Inaddition, the exporter accepts analog MPS audio 228 over its audiointerface and applies a pre-programmed delay to the analog audio toproduce a delayed analog MPS audio signal 230. This analog audio can bebroadcast as a backup channel for hybrid IBOC DAB broadcasts. The delaycompensates for the system delay of the digital MPS audio, allowingreceivers to blend between the digital and analog program without ashift in time. In an AM transmission system, the delayed analog MPSaudio signal 230 is converted by the exporter to a mono signal and sentdirectly to the STL as part of the exciter link data 252.

The EASU 222 accepts MPS audio 242 from the studio automation equipment,rate converts it to the proper system clock, and may output two copiesof the audio signal, one digital (226) and one analog (228). The EASUincludes a GPS receiver that is connected to an antenna 225. The GPSreceiver allows the EASU to derive a master clock signal, which issynchronized to the exciter's clock by use of GPS units. The EASUprovides the master system clock used by the exporter. The EASU is alsoused to bypass (or redirect) the analog MPS audio from being passedthrough the exporter in the event the exporter has a catastrophic faultand is no longer operational. The bypassed audio 232 can be fed directlyinto the STL transmitter, eliminating a dead-air event.

STL transmitter 248 receives delayed analog MPS audio 250 and exciterlink data 252. It outputs exciter link data and delayed analog MPS audioover STL link 214, which may be either unidirectional or bidirectional.The STL link may be a digital microwave or Ethernet link, for example,and may use the standard User Datagram Protocol or the standard TCP/IP.

The transmitter site includes an STL receiver 254, an exciter 256 and ananalog exciter 260. The STL receiver 254 receives exciter link data,including audio and data signals as well as command and controlmessages, over the STL link 214. The exciter link data is passed to theexciter 256, which produces the IBOC DAB waveform. The exciter includesa host processor, digital up-converter, RF up-converter, and exginesubsystem 258. The exgine accepts exciter link data and modulates thedigital portion of the IBOC DAB waveform. The digital up-converter ofexciter 256 converts from digital-to-analog the baseband portion of theexgine output. The digital-to-analog conversion is based on a GPS clock,common to that of the exporter's GPS-based clock derived from the EASU.Thus, the exciter 256 can include a GPS unit and antenna 257.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system for processing audio files forradio broadcast. The system 300 includes a server 315 and an Internetnetwork interface 320 (I/F). The Internet network interface 320 can bean interface to the cloud 125 in FIG. 1 or an interface to theintermediate communication platform 120 in FIG. 1. The server 315 mayperform one or more of the functions of the studio automation equipment234 or importer 218 shown in FIG. 2. The server 315 includes a firstport 370 operatively coupled to the Internet network interface 320. Incertain embodiments, the Internet network interface 320 includes anInternet access point (e.g., a modem), and the port 370 can include(among other options) a communication (COMM) port, or a universal serialbus (USB) port.

The server 315 also includes a processor 372, a memory 374, and aservice application 376 for execution by the processor 372. The serviceapplication 376 can comprise software that operates using the operatingsystem software of the server 315. The service application 376 receivesa digital audio file and associated radio broadcast information via theInternet network interface. The content of the digital audio file can bean advertisement or other audio for play in association with a radiobroadcast.

The radio broadcast information received with the digital audio file caninclude one or more of a date of the radio broadcast of the digitalaudio file and a geographical region where the digital audio file is tobe broadcast. The radio broadcast information can also include one ormore identifiers of radio broadcasters to broadcast the digital audiofile. The radio broadcast information can further include a date rangefor which radio reception information is collected at the radioreceivers and returned. The digital audio file and radio broadcastinformation may be uploaded to the server 315 by a company, advertiser,or radio station using a telematics network, the Internet, a cellularnetwork, or cloud. In certain embodiments, the digital audio file andassociated radio broadcast information is uploaded by a serviceprovider.

The service application 376 obtains an audio file identifier using asegment of the digital audio file. As an illustrative example intendedto be non-limiting, the audio file identifier may include a digitalfingerprint for the digital audio file or a digital watermark for thedigital audio file. The service application 376 may store the audio fileidentifier (e.g., in memory 374).

In certain embodiments, the service application 376 produces the audiofile identifier. In other embodiments, the service application 376 sendsthe digital audio file to a second server (e.g., via the cloud 125 inFIG. 1), and receives the audio file from a second server. The term“cloud” is used herein to refer to a hardware abstraction. Instead ofone dedicated server processing the digital audio file and returning theaudio file identifier (e.g., the digital fingerprint or the digitalwatermark), sending the digital audio file to the cloud can includesending the digital audio file to a data center or processing center.The actual server used to process the digital audio file isinterchangeable at the data center or processing center.

The service application 376 forwards the digital audio file to a radiobroadcast system for broadcast according to the radio broadcastinformation. In certain embodiments, the service application 376includes the digital audio file in SPS audio, SPS data, or AAS data andforwards the digital audio file in metadata to an exporter of the radiobroadcast system. The server may include a second port (not shown)operatively coupled to the exporter. In certain embodiments, the serviceapplication 376 forwards the digital audio file to the radio broadcastsystem via the Internet interface. The digital audio file is received ata radio broadcast transmitter site according to one or more of a radiostation identifier, a geographical location, or a date for thebroadcast. The digital audio file can then be broadcast such as by usingan IBOC DAB radio signal for reception by radio receivers.

One or more radio receivers that receive the digital audio file extractthe digital audio segment used to produce the audio file identifier. Theradio receivers send the digital audio segment with associated radioreception information back to the server 315. The radio receivers maysend the digital audio segment and radio reception information using theintermediate communication platform 120 or the cloud 125 in FIG. 1. Theserver may receive the digital audio segment and radio receptioninformation via the Internet network interface 320. The serviceapplication 376 identifies the digital audio file using the receivedfile segment. To identify the digital audio file, the audio fileidentifier can be re-obtained by service application 376 by reproducingthe audio file identifier or using a service to reproduce the audio fileidentifier. The service application records the radio receptioninformation for the identified digital audio file.

The radio reception information is information collected by a radioreceiver in response to receiving the digital audio file. The radioreception information can be collected when the digital audio file isreceived and played by the radio receiver. In certain embodiments, theradio receiver may include multiple tuners and may be able to initiatecollecting of the radio reception information without the digital audiofile being played by the user of the radio receiver. The radio receptioninformation can be collected when one of the multiple tuners is tuned tothe broadcast and the radio receiver receives the digital audio file orthe segment of the digital audio file.

The radio reception information can include one or more of the Internetprotocol (IP) address of the radio receiver, an identifier of the radiostation from which the radio receiver received the digital audio filesegment, a date the radio receiver received the digital audio filesegment, a time the radio receiver received the digital audio filesegment, global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the radioreceiver location when receiving the digital audio file segment, and GPScoordinates of one or more locations of the radio receiver following thereception of the digital audio file segment.

The radio reception information can be recorded by storing theinformation in memory in association with the audio file identifier. Auser can then access the radio reception information for the digitalaudio file from storage. The user may be a company that engaged anadvertiser or radio station to implement an advertising campaign overbroadcast radio. The company can use the radio reception information toindependently determine the success of advertising campaigns withoutrelying on the advertisers or the radio stations that are compensatedfor running the advertising campaigns.

Radio reception information received from multiple radio receivers canbe used to create a database of advertisements that were received andplayed, and correlating the time, date and number of listeners. Theinformation can be collected regionally or nationally. This correlateddata can be used to determine the success of an advertising campaign.For example, the success of an advertising campaign can be determinedbased on the number of radio receivers that were tuned to the broadcastand received the advertisement. This can be determined using the numberof copies of the audio file data segments received or the number ofInternet protocol (IP) addresses received. The advertising campaign canbe optimized by determining the date, time, radio station, and locationthat were associated with the most receptions of the digital audio file.

In another example, the success of an advertising campaign can bedetermined based on subsequent actions by the users of the radioreceivers as recorded in the radio reception information. The metadatathat includes the digital audio file may also include purchaseinformation that can be displayed on the radio receivers. The radioreceivers may include a user interface that enables users to makepurchases via the intermediate platform. The IP addresses of the radioreception information can be correlated with the IP addresses of thepurchase information to determine a measure of success of theadvertising campaign. This correlation data may be produced by theservice application and stored (e.g., in the server memory), or thecorrelation data may be determined by another device after radioreception information is downloaded from memory.

In another example, the radio broadcast information can include GPScoordinates of one or more locations related to the content of thedigital audio file. These may be locations to purchase goods or servicesrelated to the content of the digital audio file, such as participatingstores for example. The radio reception information can include GPScoordinates of one or more locations of a radio receiver followingreception of the digital audio file segment by the radio receiver.Correlating the GPS coordinates of the radio broadcast information withthe subsequent GPS coordinates of the radio reception information canindicate the number of users that acted on the advertising of thedigital audio file by visiting the locations of the broadcastcoordinates. The time between playing the audio digital file and thearrival at the broadcast coordinates may also be recorded. Again, thiscorrelation data may be produced using the service application andstored, or the correlation data may be determined by another deviceafter radio reception information is downloaded from memory. In certainembodiments, upon reception of the digital audio file segment, theservice application forwards previously received radio receptioninformation associated with the digital audio file to the source thatuploaded the digital audio file to the server.

The radio reception information received by the server can be used totarget additional advertising to the users of the radio receivers. Basedon the IP address of a radio receiver and the reception of the digitalaudio file, the service application 376 may select an additional digitalaudio file to forward to the radio receiver via the Internet networkinterface 320. The service application may also select the additionaldigital audio file using one or both of purchase information and GPScoordinates of the radio receiver.

In another example, the radio receiver identifies and selects theadditional advertising played to the user. The radio receiver may selectcertain advertisements within the radio broadcast signal for replacementby other advertisements in the radio broadcast. The replacementadvertisements may be local digital audio that replaces theadvertisements in the broadcast. The radio receiver may identify theadvertisements to be replaced based on instructions received from theservice application 376. The advertisements to be replaced may beidentified based on the audio file identifiers or the radio receiver mayperform analysis of the broadcast signal to identify the advertisementsto be replaced. The replacement advertisements may be pre-delivered tothe radio receivers by the service application based on the radiobroadcast information or the radio reception information sent by theradio receiver. In certain examples, the radio receiver stores digitalaudio files sent by the service application 376. To the listener of theradio receiver, the replacement advertisements would appear to beintegrated into the radio broadcast and the audio output of the radioreceiver.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of portions of an example IBOC DAB receiver.The radio receiver 400 may be a component of the radio broadcastreceiver 110 shown in FIG. 1. The radio receiver 400 includes a wirelessInternet network interface for receiving metadata via wireless IP andother components for receiving over-the-air radio broadcast signals. TheInternet network interface 440 and receiver controller 430 may becollectively referred to as a wireless internet protocol hardwarecommunication module of the radio receiver.

The radio receiver 400 includes radio frequency (RF) receiver circuitryincluding tuner 456 that has an input 452 connected to an antenna 454.The antenna 454, tuner4, and baseband processor 451 may be collectivelyreferred to as an over-the-air radio broadcast hardware communicationmodule.

Within the baseband processor 451, an intermediate frequency signal 457from the tuner 456 is provided to an analog-to-digital converter anddigital down converter 458 to produce a baseband signal at output 460comprising a series of complex signal samples. The signal samples arecomplex in that each sample comprises a “real” component and an“imaginary” component. An analog demodulator 462 demodulates the analogmodulated portion of the baseband signal to produce an analog audiosignal on line 464. The digitally modulated portion of the sampledbaseband signal is filtered by isolation filter 466, which has apass-band frequency response comprising the collective set ofsubcarriers f₁-f_(n) present in the received OFDM signal. First adjacentcanceller (F AC) 468 suppresses the effects of a first-adjacentinterferer. Complex signal 469 is routed to the input of acquisitionmodule 470, which acquires or recovers OFDM symbol timing offset/errorand carrier frequency offset/error from the received OFDM symbols asrepresented in received complex signal 469. Acquisition module 470develops a symbol timing offset Δt and carrier frequency offset Δf, aswell as status and control information. The signal is then demodulated(block 472) to demodulate the digitally modulated portion of thebaseband signal. The digital signal is de-interleaved by ade-interleaver 474, and decoded by a Viterbi decoder 476. A servicede-multiplexer 478 separates main and supplemental program signals fromdata signals. The supplemental program signals may include a digitalaudio file received in an IBOC DAB radio broadcast signal.

The wireless Internet network interface may be managed by the receivercontroller 430. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the Internet network interface440 and the receiver controller 430 are operatively coupled via a line442, and data transmitted between the Internet network interface 440 andthe receiver controller 430 is sent over this line 442. A selector 420may connect to receiver controller 430 via line 436 to select specificdata received from the Internet network interface 440. The data mayinclude metadata (e.g., text, images, video, etc.), and may be renderedat substantially the same time that primary or supplemental programmingcontent received over-the-air in the IBOC DAB radio signal is rendered.

An audio processor 480 processes received signals to produce an audiosignal on line 482 and MPSD/SPSD 481. In embodiments, analog and maindigital audio signals are blended as shown in block 484, or thesupplemental program signal is passed through, to produce an audiooutput on line 486. A data processor 488 processes received data signalsand produces data output signals on lines 490, 492, and 494. The datalines 490, 492, and 494 may be multiplexed together onto a suitable bussuch as an I²c, SPI, UART, or USB. The data signals can include, forexample, data representing the metadata to be rendered at the radioreceiver.

The receiver controller 430 receives and processes the data signals. Thereceiver controller 430 may include a microcontroller that isoperatively coupled to the user interface 432 and memory 434. Themicrocontroller may be an 8-bit RISC microcontroller, an advanced RISCmachine 32-bit microcontroller, or any other suitable microcontroller.Additionally, a portion or all of the functions of the receivercontroller 430 could be performed in a baseband processor (e.g., theaudio processor 480 and/or data processor 488). The user interface 432may include input/output (I/O) processor that controls the display,which may be any suitable visual display such as an LCD or LED display.In certain embodiments, the user interface 432 may also control userinput components via a touch-screen display. In certain embodiments, theuser interface 432 may also control user input from a keyboard, dials,knobs or other suitable inputs. The memory 434 may include any suitabledata storage medium such as RAM, Flash ROM (e.g., an SD memory card),and/or a hard disk drive. The radio receiver 400 also includes a GPSreceiver 496 to receive GPS coordinates.

As explained previously herein, a digital audio file can be received viathe RF receiver circuitry. The digital audio file can be processed asSPS audio, SPS data, or AAS data. The receiver controller 430 initiatesplay of the digital audio file in response to an input received via theuser interface 432. The receiver controller 430 also sends a segment ofdigital audio file and associated radio reception information to adestination via the Internet network interface 440.

The receiver controller 430 collects the radio reception information andmay forward the information to a service controller 115 as in FIG. 1.Some examples of the radio reception information were describedpreviously herein, and can include GPS coordinates received after thedigital audio file is played at the receiver.

The radio receiver 400 may receive an additional digital audio file viathe Internet network interface 440. The additional digital audio filemay be received from a radio broadcast system in response to sending theradio reception information. The receiver controller 430 may initiateplay of the additional digital audio file when it is received. Incertain embodiments, the receiver controller 430 may store theadditional audio file in memory 434. The radio controller may initiateplay of the additional digital audio file according to the collectedradio reception information. For example, the additional digital audiofile may be played when certain GPS coordinates are received by the GPSreceiver 496. In another example, the additional digital audio file maybe played based on purchase information entered into the radio receiver.In a further example, digital audio file may be played in place of anadvertisement contained within the broadcast signal.

The systems, devices, and methods described permit companies,advertisers, and radio stations a means to independently track the playof radio advertisements in particular regions or nationally. Informationcollected by the systems, devices, and methods can be useful to trackthe listenership of the certain radio advertisements and the listenerimpressions of certain radio advertisements. The information can beprocessed independent of third parties that may have a compensationinterest in the reporting. The information allows the third parties toindependently track consumer conversion of certain radio advertisementsin particular regions or nationally by identifying the number ofconsumers who listened to the radio broadcast of the advertisements andwent to a certain geographical location associated with theadvertisement. The information also may be helpful to target additionaladvertising to be served to the consumers. It can be seen upon readingthe detailed description that the systems, devices, and methods canallow for improved allocation of advertising resources.

Additional Examples and Disclosure

Example 1 can include subject matter (such as a system for processingaudio files for radio broadcast) comprising an Internet networkinterface and a first server. The first server includes a first portoperatively coupled to the Internet network interface, a memory, aprocessor, and a service application for execution by the processor. Theservice application is configured to receive a digital audio file andassociated radio broadcast information via the Internet networkinterface; obtain an audio file identifier using a segment of thedigital audio file; forward the digital audio file to a radio broadcastsystem according to the radio broadcast information; receive the segmentof the digital audio file and associated radio reception information viathe internet network interface; and identify the digital audio file andrecord the radio reception information for the identified digital audiofile.

In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 optionally includes aservice application configured to receive associated radio broadcastinformation that includes one or more of a date of the radio broadcastof the digital audio file; a geographical region where the digital audiofile is to be broadcast; and one or more identifiers of radiobroadcasters to broadcast the digital audio file.

In Example 3, the subject matter of one or both of Examples 1 and 2optionally includes a service application configured to receiveassociated radio broadcast information that includes one or more of anInternet protocol address of a radio receiver that received digitalaudio file segment; an identifier of the radio station from which theradio receiver received the digital audio file segment; a date the radioreceiver received the digital audio file segment; a time the radioreceiver received the digital audio file segment; global positioningsystem (GPS) coordinates of the radio receiver location when receivingthe digital audio file segment; and GPS coordinates of one or morelocations of the radio receiver following reception of the digital audiofile segment.

In Example 4, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples1-3 optionally includes a service application configured to receiveassociated radio broadcast information that includes GPS coordinates ofone or more locations related to the content of the digital audio file,and the associated radio reception information includes GPS coordinatesof one or more locations of a radio receiver following reception of thedigital audio file segment by the radio receiver. The serviceapplication is optionally configured to produce correlation data thatcorrelates the locations related to the content of the digital audiofile to the locations of the radio receiver and store the producedcorrelation data.

In Example 5, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples1-4 optionally includes a service application configured to send thedigital audio file to a second server, and receive from the secondserver, as the audio file identifier, one or both of a digitalfingerprint for the digital audio file and a watermark for the digitalaudio file.

In Example 6, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples1-5 optionally includes a service application configured to select anadditional digital audio file using the associated radio receptioninformation, and forward the additional digital audio file to a radioreceiver via the Internet interface.

In Example 7, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples1-6 optionally includes a service application configured to forwardpreviously received radio reception information associated with thedigital audio file to a source of digital audio file upon reception ofthe digital audio file.

In Example 8, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples1-7 optionally includes a service application is configured to forwardthe digital audio file to the radio program broadcaster via the Internetnetwork interface.

Example 9 includes subject matter (such as a radio receiver), or canoptionally be combined with one or any combination of Examples 1-8 toinclude such subject matter, comprising radio frequency (RF) receivercircuitry configured to receive a radio broadcast signal that includes adigital audio file; an Internet network interface; a user interface; anda receiver controller. The receiver controller is configured to initiateplay of the digital audio file in response to an input received via theuser interface; and send a digital audio file segment and associatedradio reception information to a destination via the Internet networkinterface.

In Example 10, the subject matter of Example 9 optionally includes areceiver controller configured to send associated radio receptioninformation that includes one or more of an Internet protocol address ofthe radio receiver that played the digital audio file segment; anidentifier of the radio station from which the radio receiver receivedthe digital audio file segment; a date the radio receiver played thedigital audio file segment; a time the radio receiver played the digitalaudio file segment; and global positioning system (GPS) coordinates ofthe radio receiver location when playing the digital audio file segment.

In Example 11, the subject matter of one or both of Examples 9 and 10optionally includes a receiver controller configured to send associatedradio reception information that includes GPS coordinates of one or morelocations of the radio receiver following reception of the digital audiofile segment.

In Example 12, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples9-11 optionally includes RF receiver circuitry configured to receive anin-band on-channel (IBOC) digital audio broadcasting (DAB) radiobroadcast signal.

In Example 13, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples9-12 optionally includes a memory. The receiver controller is optionallyconfigured to store an additional digital audio file received via theInternet network interface in the memory, and initiate play of theadditional digital audio file received via the Internet networkinterface.

In Example 14, the subject matter of Example 13 optionally includes areceiver controller configured to selectively initiate the play of theadditional digital audio file received via the Internet networkinterface according to the radio reception information.

Example 15 includes subject matter (such as a computer readable storagemedium including instructions that, when performed by processingcircuitry of a computing device, cause the computing device to performacts), or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of one orany combination of Examples 1-14 to include such subject matter,comprising receiving, at the computing device, a digital audio file andassociated radio broadcast information via an Internet network;obtaining an audio file identifier using a segment of the digital audiofile; forwarding the digital audio file to a radio program broadcastingsystem according to the associated radio broadcast information;receiving the segment of the digital audio file and associated radioreception information via the Internet network; and identifying thedigital audio file and recording the radio reception information for theidentified digital audio file.

In Example 16, the subject matter of Example 15 optionally includesinstructions that cause the processing circuitry to perform actscomprising receiving associated broadcast information that includes oneor more of: a date of the broadcast of the digital audio file; ageographical region where the digital audio file is to be broadcast; andone or more identifiers of radio broadcasters to broadcast the digitalaudio file.

In Example 17, the subject matter of one or both of Examples 15 and 16optionally includes instructions that cause the processing circuitry toperform acts comprising: receiving associated radio receptioninformation that includes one or more of: an Internet protocol (IP)address of a radio receiver that received digital audio file segment; anidentifier of the radio station from which the radio receiver receivedthe digital audio file segment; a date the radio receiver received thedigital audio file segment; a time the radio receiver received thedigital audio file segment; global positioning system (GPS) coordinatesof the radio receiver location when receiving the digital audio filesegment; and GPS coordinates of one or more locations of the radioreceiver following reception of the digital audio file segment.

In Example 18, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples15-17 optionally includes instructions that cause the processingcircuitry to perform acts comprising: receiving GPS coordinates of oneor more locations related to the content of the digital audio file;receiving GPS coordinates of one or more locations of the radio receiverfollowing reception of the digital audio file segment; and producingcorrelation data that correlates the locations related to the content ofthe digital audio file to the locations of the radio receiver, andstoring the produced correlation data.

In Example 19, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples15-18 optionally includes instructions that cause the processingcircuitry to perform acts comprising: sending the digital audio file toa second computing device; and receiving from the second computingdevice, as the audio file identifier, at least one of a digitalfingerprint for the digital audio file or a watermark for the digitalaudio file.

In Example 20, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples15-19 optionally includes instructions that cause the processingcircuitry to perform acts comprising: selecting an additional digitalaudio file according to the received associated radio receptioninformation, and forwarding the additional digital audio file to a radioreceiver via the Internet network.

In Example 21, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples15-20 optionally includes instructions that cause the processingcircuitry to perform acts comprising: receiving the digital audio filevia the Internet network from a network source for radio broadcast; andforwarding previously received radio reception information associatedwith the received digital audio file to the network source of thedigital audio file in response to the reception of the digital audiofile via the Internet network.

These non-limiting examples can be combined in any permutation orcombination. The above detailed description includes references to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description.The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in whichthe invention can be practiced. These embodiments are also referred toherein as “examples.” All publications, patents, and patent documentsreferred to in this document are incorporated by reference herein intheir entirety, as though individually incorporated by reference. In theevent of inconsistent usages between this document and those documentsso incorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated reference(s)should be considered supplementary to that of this document; forirreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this document controls.

In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patentdocuments, to include one or more than one, independent of any otherinstances or usages of“at least one” or “one or more.” In this document,the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that “A or B”includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwiseindicated. In this document, the terms “including” and “in which” areused as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms“comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms“including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device,article, composition, formulation, or process that includes elements inaddition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemedto fall within the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the followingclaims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merelyas labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements ontheir objects.

The above description is intended to be illustrative, and notrestrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or moreaspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Otherembodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the artupon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is provided to allowthe reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure.It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used tointerpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In the aboveDetailed Description, various features may be grouped together tostreamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intendingthat an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather,the subject matter may lie in less than all features of a particulardisclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporatedinto the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as aseparate embodiment, and it is contemplated that such embodiments can becombined with each other in various combinations or permutations. Thescope should be determined with reference to the appended claims, alongwith the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for processing audio files for radiobroadcast, the system comprising: an Internet network interface; and afirst server including: a first port operatively coupled to the Internetnetwork interface, a memory, a processor, and a service application forexecution by the processor, wherein the service application isconfigured to: receive a digital audio file and associated radiobroadcast information via the Internet network interface; obtain anaudio file identifier using a segment of the digital audio file; forwardthe digital audio file to a radio broadcast system according to theradio broadcast information; receive the segment of the digital audiofile and associated radio reception information via the internet networkinterface; and identify the digital audio file and record the radioreception information for the identified digital audio file.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the associated radio broadcast informationincludes one or more of: a date of the radio broadcast of the digitalaudio file; a geographical region where the digital audio file is to bebroadcast; and one or more identifiers of radio broadcasters tobroadcast the digital audio file.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein theassociated radio reception information includes one or more of: anInternet protocol address of a radio receiver that received digitalaudio file segment; an identifier of the radio station from which theradio receiver received the digital audio file segment; a date the radioreceiver received the digital audio file segment; a time the radioreceiver received the digital audio file segment; global positioningsystem (GPS) coordinates of the radio receiver location when receivingthe digital audio file segment; and GPS coordinates of one or morelocations of the radio receiver following reception of the digital audiofile segment.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the associated radiobroadcast information includes GPS coordinates of one or more locationsrelated to the content of the digital audio file, and the associatedradio reception information includes GPS coordinates of one or morelocations of a radio receiver following reception of the digital audiofile segment by the radio receiver; and wherein the service applicationis configured to produce correlation data that correlates the locationsrelated to the content of the digital audio file to the locations of theradio receiver, and store the produced correlation data.
 5. The systemof claim 1, wherein the service application is configured to send thedigital audio file to a second server, and receive from the secondserver, as the audio file identifier, one or both of a digitalfingerprint for the digital audio file and a watermark for the digitalaudio file.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the service application isconfigured to select an additional digital audio file using theassociated radio reception information, and forward the additionaldigital audio file to a radio receiver via the Internet interface. 7.The system of claim 1, wherein the service application is configured toforward previously received radio reception information associated withthe digital audio file to a source of digital audio file upon receptionof the digital audio file.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the serviceapplication is configured to forward the digital audio file to the radioprogram broadcaster via the Internet network interface.
 9. Anon-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructionsthat, when performed by processing circuitry of a computing device,cause the computing device to perform acts comprising: receiving, at thecomputing device, a digital audio file and associated radio broadcastinformation via an Internet network; obtaining an audio file identifierusing a segment of the digital audio file; forwarding the digital audiofile to a radio program broadcasting system according to the associatedradio broadcast information; receiving the segment of the digital audiofile and associated radio reception information via the Internetnetwork; and identifying the digital audio file and recording the radioreception information for the identified digital audio file.
 10. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, includinginstructions that cause the processing circuitry to perform actscomprising receiving associated broadcast information that includes oneor more of: a date of the broadcast of the digital audio file; ageographical region where the digital audio file is to be broadcast; andone or more identifiers of radio broadcasters to broadcast the digitalaudio file.
 11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium ofclaim 9, including instructions that cause the processing circuitry toperform acts comprising receiving associated radio reception informationthat includes one or more of: an Internet protocol (IP) address of aradio receiver that received digital audio file segment; an identifierof the radio station from which the radio receiver received the digitalaudio file segment; a date the radio receiver received the digital audiofile segment; a time the radio receiver received the digital audio filesegment; global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the radioreceiver location when receiving the digital audio file segment; and GPScoordinates of one or more locations of the radio receiver followingreception of the digital audio file segment.
 12. The non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium of claim 9, including instructions thatcause the processing circuitry to perform acts comprising: receiving GPScoordinates of one or more locations related to the content of thedigital audio file; receiving GPS coordinates of one or more locationsof the radio receiver following reception of the digital audio filesegment; and producing correlation data that correlates the locationsrelated to the content of the digital audio file to the locations of theradio receiver, and storing the produced correlation data.
 13. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, includinginstructions that cause the processing circuitry to perform actscomprising: sending the digital audio file to a second computing device;and receiving from the second computing device, as the audio fileidentifier, at least one of a digital fingerprint for the digital audiofile or a watermark for the digital audio file.
 14. The non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium of claim 9, including instructions thatcause the processing circuitry to perform acts comprising: selecting anadditional digital audio file according to the received associated radioreception information, and forwarding the additional digital audio fileto a radio receiver via the Internet network.
 15. The non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium of claim 9, including instructions thatcause the processing circuitry to perform acts comprising: receiving thedigital audio file via the Internet network from a network source forradio broadcast; and forwarding previously received radio receptioninformation associated with the received digital audio file to thenetwork source of the digital audio file in response to the reception ofthe digital audio file via the Internet network.